Rollei 35

[kamera]

Was just looking over my beloved camera collection and my eyes fell on the Rollei 35. This is the most expensive camera in my collection.

It is the German version in like-new condition and it took me 2 years to find it. The Singapore versions are quite available, but I wanted a top-notch German one.
Paid $350 dollars for it from KEH in Atlanta, GA, about 4 years ago.

The controls are laid out 'funny' but once I get refamiliar with them it is a fun camera to use and very good quality pics.

Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI

[physiognomy]

Hey Ron,

Whoa, your German rollei 35 was a little on the pricey side! I have seen them here in CO for similar prices though... One thing I am wary if is the ease of changing out the bottom plate on these cameras by someone handy with such things... A questionably less valuable 'Singapore' version could be easily converted in the hope of making a little more money from a collector. Then again, I'm thinking with my empty wallet...

The Rollei 35's are great little cameras and I get a good deal of enjoyment out of using mine... I have read lots about people's dislike of actually using these cameras, but as my first 'manual' camera it was a good start to learning about shutter speeds and aperture. Who cares where the hot-shoe is located??? I've hardly ever used it... Any flash is going to be bigger than the camera itself anyway!!! Can you tell I like my Rollei 35?

How does a poor grad student afford one of these beauties??? Go to a local camera show!!! A year or so ago I decided to give myself a present while at a local camera show... I tossed up between a nice 35SE (talked the seller down to $115) and a completely mint 35T (seller firm at $200)... As you see below I went with the 2.8 sonnar, both for the lens and the reduced fear of actually using my 'new' camera! The T was beautiful, but it almost looked like it belonged on a shelf... Not something I had in mind, so I left it with the seller!

When I get some film scanned I will share pictures taken with this camera...



P

[kamera]

P,

You did get one beaut of a camera and with the flash and case; looks great in black.

I hear what you say about some greedy people possibly changing out the bottom plate. Part of why it did take me so long to locate one as I was also looking for it to be available from a reputable dealer

Do not have the flash or case, but the flash would most likely not even see any use from me either.

The first time I encountered the Rollei 35 was in Mexico and the owner of the small hotel where I stayed had one. We shared a lot of info back and forth about his Rollei and my Minolta SRT 101. Was quite humorous as he spoke little English and I spoke even less Spanish, but just the relationship of being photographers made up for the language barrier.

Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI

[melek]

The Rollei 35T was the first camera I bought when I arrived in Germany in 1979. Ironically, it was the Singapore model. That was one great camera, and I took many, many photos with it until it was lost in 1990.

I bought a new 35S in 1982 from my brother's friend who ran a gun and camera shop in Oscoda, Michigan. I also bought a Rolleiflex Automat. I still have both.

That's a good-looking 35SE that you have. I have an SE and TE, and I don't really care for the in-viewfinder LED metering system.

[kdwall]

I've never liked the Rollei 35 line. I've found them to be problematic little cameras, sort of tinny, especially compared to the tough-as-nails integrity of their tlr cameras. And the black versions look nice, but they don't seem to wear very well. If I had to have one, I'd definitely want a chrome version and I'd probably go for the simple C35 (or is it 35C?) because then I wouldn't have to deal with the pesky meters the other models have. Ron, if you paid $350 for a like-new German version through KEH, you probably did just fine. KEH is one of the better dealers, and they don't gouge on their prices. But the Rollei 35 isn't my cup of tea.

KD

[philmco]

I picked up a 35 LED (cheap SIngapore model with inferior triotar F3.5/40 mm lens) last year in a thrift store for $5. I went back the next week and picked up the matching flash for another $6. I couldn't get them to come down on the flash. The camera is OK and works well but the meter is dead. Anyone with experience on meter repairs?
Phil

[melek]

My experience was just the opposite. I've found them to be very rugged. I carried the 35T to work every day in a spare ammo pouch, and it never failed me. I also took it to Spain, many, many wine festivals and several other trips.

I don't think the Triotar models are as well made. They make prolific use of plastic and in some key areas that should be metal. They require more gentle handling. I have the C35 and LED models. Someone left the battery inside my LED model, and corrosion destroyed the cables. I might try to resolder some day.

[physiognomy]

I can't remember whether I've shared a pic of my Rollei B35...



I find that the 40/3.5 Triotar lens very good & can't work out why it is so maligned by people. Sure, compared to the 40/2.8 Sonnar it definitely takes second place, but considering you pay under 1/2 the price I think they are a bargain! This was a quick shot taken through a dusty glass window as I boarded for Australia this past summer.



Peter

[PeterW]

Can't see much wrong with that Triotar, Peter. I bought an early Rollei 35 when they first came out because I liked the compact look annd feel. That had a Triotar and took very sharp pictures, but after the thing jammed twice in the first few months and was repaired under warranty I sold it.

I think it's habit and hearsay to run down the Triotar, like the Trioplan, because they're triplets. Years ago, long before they were even coated, the self-appointed arbiters on the photo mags damned them with faint praise "Good value, but not as good as a Tessar at full aperture", and the judgement stuck, particularly with people who never tried either of them.

I reckon a well designed and well made triplet is better than a lot of cheap own-brand four-element Tessar-copy lenses. It depends on the precision of the grinding and polishing and the care with which the centre element is positioned.

PeterW

I see on preview that the ever-vigilant auto censor didn't like 'd@mned them with faint praise'. Someone ought to feed it Shakespeare. Then it might think 'I cannot do this bl@@dy thing' .
PW